Online Reporter
Oliver Kazunga
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has urged employers to prioritise workplace wellness, mental health and occupational safety, warning that employee wellbeing is now critical to productivity, economic transformation and the attainment of Vision 2030.
Recently, the Government warned that rising workplace stress, burnout, absenteeism and psychosocial risks were undermining productivity and economic performance, prompting a renewed push to integrate employee wellness into national development planning under NDS2 and Vision 2030.
Speaking at the inaugural National Workers Wellness Summit in Harare last week, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said Zimbabwe’s drive towards becoming an upper-middle-income economy under Vision 2030 could only be achieved through a healthy, productive and resilient workforce.
“This initiative comes at a critical time as Zimbabwe continues to strengthen its focus on human capital development, workforce productivity, and inclusive economic transformation in line with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2),” he said.
“The participation of Government, business, organised labour, healthcare professionals, development partners, and civil society reflects a shared understanding that employee wellbeing is central to sustainable economic growth, institutional resilience, and national productivity.”
The summit, held under the theme, “Human Capital Governance and Workforce Wellness: Advancing Productivity and Inclusion for Sustainable Growth,” brought together Government officials, business leaders, organised labour, healthcare professionals, development partners and civil society organisations.
Minister Moyo said Zimbabwe’s development agenda under NDS2 places human capital development at the centre of economic growth and national transformation.
He said human capital remained one of the key drivers of economic transformation, innovation, competitiveness and social stability.
“As Zimbabwe advances towards becoming an upper-middle-income economy, we must recognise that sustainable development cannot be achieved without healthy, productive, motivated, and resilient people,” he said.
Minister Moyo noted that the summit strongly aligned with the NDS2 Human Capital Development Pillar and contributed towards the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-being, SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities.
He said workplace wellness, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing were no longer peripheral concerns, but had become critical components of economic sustainability and organisational performance.
“Today, workplace wellness, mental health, occupational safety, and psychosocial wellbeing are no longer peripheral concerns,” he said.
“They are now central to economic sustainability and organisational performance. Across the world, organisations are recognising that burnout, workplace stress, absenteeism, occupational injuries, and psychosocial risks negatively affect productivity, innovation, and employee engagement.”
Evidence, Minister Moyo said, continued to show that organisations investing in employee wellbeing experienced stronger workforce retention, improved productivity, enhanced innovation and better long-term performance.
“Workplace wellness must therefore move beyond compliance-driven interventions and become embedded within leadership governance systems, organisational culture and strategic planning.
“Employees perform best when they feel safe, valued, supported, and empowered. Safe and healthy workplaces are therefore not only a legal and ethical obligation, but also a strategic requirement for decent work, productivity, and sustainable economic growth,” he said.
Minister Moyo welcomed the proposed National Workplace Wellness Research Initiative, saying it would provide critical insights into psychosocial risks, workplace wellness systems and private sector investment in employee wellbeing across Zimbabwe.
“I am particularly encouraged by the objectives of this summit, especially the focus on strengthening workplace wellness systems and promoting evidence-based approaches to employee wellbeing.
“The proposed National Workplace Wellness Research Initiative is especially commendable, as it will provide important insights into psychosocial risks, workplace wellness systems, and private sector investment in employee wellbeing across Zimbabwe,” he said.
